Isaiah 28

The prophet threateneth Ephraim for thier pride and drunkenness.

Isaiah 28:1 Wo be vnto the crowne of pride, euen to the droncken people of Ephraim whose great pompe is as a flour that fadeth awaye vpon the head of the valleye of such as be in welth, and are ouerladen with wyne. Isaiah 28:2 Beholde, ther commeth a vehement and sore daye from the Lorde lyke an vnmeasurable hayle and perellous tempest, euen lyke the force of myghtye and horrible waters, þt violentlye beareth downe all thinges. Isaiah 28:3 The crowne of the pryde of the dronken Ephraemites shalbe troden vnder fote: Isaiah 28:4 so that the floure of hys fayrenes and bewty, which is in the head of the valley of fatnes, shall fade awaye, as doth an vntimely rype fygg afore heruest. Which whan a man spyeth, he loketh vpon it: and whyle it is yet in his hande, he eateth it vp.

The residue shall be advanced in the Kingdom of Christ.

Isaiah 28:5 In þe daye shall the Lorde of hostes be the crowne of glory, & diademe of bewtye vnto the residue of his people. Isaiah 28:6 He wilbe also a spirite of perfyte knowledge to him þt sitteth in iudgement, & strength vnto them that turne awaye the battell to the gate of the enemies.

He rebuketh their error.

Isaiah 28:7 But they are out of the waye by reason of wyne: yee, farre out of þe waye are they thorowe strong drynke. The preste also & the prophet are gone astraye by the meanes of strong drincke, they are dronken wt wyne, they go amisse thorowe strong drincke: they fayle in prophecying & stomble in iudgment. Isaiah 28:8 For tables are so full of vomyte and fylthines, þt no place is cleane.

Their untowardness to learn,

Isaiah 28:9 Whom then shall such one teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to vnderstonde the thing that he heareth? For they are as ignoraunt as yong children, that are taken from the mylke and are weened. Isaiah 28:10 For they that be such must haue after one lesson, another lesson: after one commaundement, another commaundement, after one rule another rule, after one instruccion another instruccyon, there a lytle and there a lytle. Isaiah 28:11 For he that speaketh vnto this people is euen as one that vseth rudenes of spech, and a straunge language. Yf any man saye vnto them: Isaiah 28:12 lo, this is the rest wherwith ye maye ease hym that is weerye, thys is the refresshinge, they wyll not herken. Isaiah 28:13 Therfore, the worde of the Lorde (lesson vpon lesson, commaundement vpon commaundement, rule vpon rule, instruccyon vpon instruccion, there a lytle and there a lytle) shall be vnto them an occasyon of stombling that they maye go on, and fall backward, be brused, tangled and snared.

and their security.

Isaiah 28:14 Wherfore, heare the worde of the Lorde ye mockers, ye that haue rule of this people which is at Ierusalem. Isaiah 28:15 Because ye haue sayd: we haue made a couenaunt with death, & with hell are we at agrement. And though there go forth a sore plage, it shall nott come vnto vs. For we haue made falshode our refuge, and vnder vanitie are we hid.

Christ the sure foundation is promised.

Isaiah 28:16 Therfore thus sayth þe Lorde God: Beholde, I laye in Sion for a foundation a stone, euen a tryed stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: Whoso beleueth, let hym not be to hastye. Isaiah 28:17 Iudgment also will I laye to the rule, and righteousnes to the balaunce: so þt the hayle shall take awaye your vayne confidence as a broome, and the preuy place of youre refuge shall the waters renne ouer.

Their security shall be tried.

Isaiah 28:18 And thus the couenaunt that ye made wt death, shalbe disanulled: and your agrement that ye made with hell, shall not stand. Yee, when the sore plage goeth forth, ye shalbe troden downe vnder it. From the tyme that it goeth forth, it shall take you awaye. Isaiah 28:19 For early in the mornynge euery daye: yee, both daye & night shall it go thorowe: & when the noyse therof is perceaued, it shall gendre vexation. Isaiah 28:20 For the bed is narow, and nott large: & the couering so small that a man can not wynde him selfe vnder it. Isaiah 28:21 For þe Lorde shall stonde as in mount Perazim, and shalbe wrothe lyke as in þe valley Gibeon, þt he maie do his worke, his straung worke & bring to passe his acte, his straunge acte. Isaiah 28:22 Now therfore se þt ye be no mockers, lest your punyshment increace: for I haue heard of the Lorde of hostes, that there shall come a short ende vpon the whole earth.

They are incited to the consideration of God's discreet providence.

Isaiah 28:23 Heare ye then, & herken vnto my voyce, considre & pondre my spech. Isaiah 28:24 Doth not þe husbandman plowe all the daie, and openeth & breaketh the clottes of his grounde, þt he maye sowe? Isaiah 28:25 Whan he hath made it playn, will he not spred abrode the fitches, and sowe comyn, & cast in whete by measure, & the appoynted barlye and rye in their place? Isaiah 28:26 God will instructe hym to haue discretion, euen his God wyll teach hym. Isaiah 28:27 For fitches shall not be tresshed with an harowe: nether shall a carte whele be brought thorowe the comyn: but the fitches are beaten out with a stafe, and comyn wt a rodd. Isaiah 28:28 But the seede that bread is made of, is tresshed, though it be not alwaye a thresshing. And þe carte whele must be brought ouer it, lest he grynde it with his teth. Isaiah 28:29 This also commeth of the Lorde of hoostes, which worcketh wt wonderfull wysdome, and bringeth excellent workes to passe.